{"id":17853,"date":"2023-07-20T17:26:31","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T21:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?post_type=cw_post&p=17853"},"modified":"2023-07-31T12:04:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T16:04:46","slug":"best-practices-for-high-quality-work-based-learning","status":"publish","type":"cw_post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/cw_post\/best-practices-for-high-quality-work-based-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Practices for High-Quality Work-Based Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is the second in a<\/i> series<\/i><\/a> related to the Aurora Institute\u2019s report, Expanding Student Access to Work-Based Learning: Federal Policy Recommendations<\/a>, which outlines the importance of implementing and incentivizing innovative career pathways and presents a role for the federal government to better support and guide states to carry out work-based learning programs.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

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Photo by Allison Shelley\/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Work-based learning (WBL) is a learning strategy that provides the opportunity for students to gain on-the-job training, develop transferable skills, and apply their knowledge to real-world situations through a partnership with an employer. The first post in this series<\/a> explored how WBL aligns with components of competency-based education (CBE), including by actively engaging students in the learning process and expanding how students learn to better prepare them for post-secondary learning, career, and life. This post explores evidence-based best practices for designing effective WBL experiences.<\/p>\n

Centering Equity in WBL<\/h2>\n

We know that a student\u2019s success after high school is directly correlated to their family\u2019s educational background<\/a>, their household income, and the quality of their schooling, which is largely determined by zip code. High-quality WBL opportunities can play a role in alleviating inequitable access that many low-income students and students of color face.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Allison Shelley\/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Similarly to CBE, WBL can guide students on personalized, competency-based pathways. WBL prepares students to confidently make informed decisions regarding their futures. WBL does not assume that every student is aware of what they want to do after high school or how they will get there, but instead provides a step-by-step process in which students can explore their interests and future career paths.<\/p>\n

For WBL to drive equitable outcomes, it must provide students with experiences that are meaningful and dynamic. Students must be able to connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world and see how they can make a positive difference with their skills and talents.<\/p>\n

What Makes a High-Quality WBL Program?<\/h2>\n
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Photo by Allison Shelley\/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The purpose of WBL is to provide students with the opportunity to develop and advance professional skills and experiences while also supporting students to apply their knowledge and skills in the real world. According to the Brookings Institution<\/a>, high-quality WBL programs assist students with structuring their networks, building positive relationships with adults, and advancing their social and human capital. The experiences and skills students develop through WBL strengthen their career identity and create a pathway towards their future.<\/p>\n

The following list synthesizes research from several reports from organizations leading on WBL. These reports are also at the end of this post for more in-depth reading. For an effective and high-quality work-based learning strategy, the program must:<\/p>\n

1. Fit within a continuum of experiences<\/h4>\n

WBL experiences provide students with career development throughout the span of their K-12 learning experience. WBL programs should include opportunities for career awareness through field trips and tours, career exploration through job shadowing, and career preparation through skill application in internships.<\/p>\n

2. Be equitable to all students<\/h4>\n

WBL experiences must be accessible to every student regardless of race, identity, ability, and socioeconomic background. To alleviate financial challenges that could prevent students from participating, on-site WBL experiences, such as internships and apprenticeships, should be paid. This allows for students who would otherwise need to be employed to still have an opportunity to gain income.<\/p>\n

3. Promote student choice and autonomy<\/h4>\n

Students should have a choice in the industries they want to explore and their worksite locations. Developing individualized learning plans and identifying career goals allows students to show leadership in their learning. During the program, students should receive support both from the school and workplace to realize career and personal growth.<\/p>\n

4. Create collaborative WBL ecosystems<\/h4>\n

WBL is multidimensional and requires an in-sync collaboration between educators, employers, and the community. All partners should have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities throughout the program. Partners should remain engaged with one another to ensure a successful program.<\/p>\n

All members of the WBL ecosystem must receive proper training and support to carry out a successful program. Appropriate planning requires identifying methods of communication to foster a collaborative partnership and program.<\/p>\n

5. Have clearly defined measurements<\/h4>\n

For WBL to be effective, there should be clear definitions of goals, expectations, and procedures to help guide and support the WBL ecosystem in carrying out the program. Measurements must identify what makes a WBL program successful and track student progress throughout the program.<\/p>\n

6. Provide quality work experiences<\/h4>\n

Internships must offer high-quality experiences and make a student\u2019s investment into the program worthwhile. Students should engage in work experiences that offer hands-on experience and expose them to real-world situations. The work experience must be safe, legal, and comply with federal regulations. The tasks given to the students should be meaningful and contribute to the student\u2019s skill development and overall learning plan.<\/p>\n

7. Help participants develop transferable skills<\/h4>\n

In high-quality WBL, students learn skills that are applicable to the classroom, their personal lives, and the workforce, regardless of industry. In the workplace, learning experiences should build on the school-based curricula, which should create a foundation for, support, and reinforce the academic and career skills gained during those experiences. Because of this, students can see how what they learn in school can be applied to real-world situations.<\/p>\n

Work Based Learning Ecosystem<\/h2>\n

Successful WBL experiences are dependent on the strength of what Getting Smart and GPS Education Partners <\/span>call the Work-Based Learning Ecosystem<\/a>, composed of educators, employers, the community, and intermediaries. Collaboration within the ecosystem is crucial throughout the WBL design and implementation process.<\/p>\n

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Graphic from the Work-Based Learning Ecosystem report by Getting Smart and GPS Education Partners, p. 12.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Educators<\/h4>\n

To implement a successful WBL program, schools must restructure their approach to teaching and learning. Optimally, they would also transition to a competency-based approach. This approach allows schools to accommodate time off campus, have flexibility in learning, and provide personalized instruction for each student to make progress in WBL opportunities (such as earning certifications) at their own pace. Restructuring the currently predominant learning model will cultivate a culture that can nurture WBL programs in schools.<\/p>\n

Employers<\/h4>\n

Employers can support WBL through communicating with schools to determine essential skills students need in the workplace, construct training plans, and deliver on-the-job training. Employers play an essential role in developing successful WBL programs \u2013 providing compensation, assisting in defining students\u2019 learning and training goals, and facilitating the learning that takes place.<\/p>\n

Community<\/h4>\n

Community-based organizations like regional economic advocacy and workforce development organizations can support the ecosystem by providing information about the surrounding community, such as economic trends and demographic shifts. They are crucial in providing context and highlighting the needs of the community.<\/p>\n

Intermediaries<\/h4>\n

Sustainable and effective WBL depends on effective partnerships between schools and employers. Intermediaries can play a key role by coordinating work opportunities for students and facilitating relationships between stakeholders to increase the impact of WBL programs. Intermediaries often provide support in other areas such as:<\/p>\n